Period of Trial and Hope discussion, persuasion, and the search for mutual interests tc keep the question open until it could be moved toward some solu- tion".44 He attempted to gain the trust and confidence of both the Arab and Jewish national leaders and then, on the basis of this trust and understanding, to try to break down the deep en- mity between them. Although Kennedy did not succeed in his mission, his endeavours, nevertheless, went a long way in ensuring much improved relations between Washington and the Arab capi- tals. The Kennedy Administration reconciled itself to the Middk East countries policy of positive neutrality. This marked a radi- cal change in the policy followed by the previous (Eisenhower) Administration which had stressed on the creation of military blocs and regarded neutralism as tantamount to '"pro-commun- ism". Under President Kennedy, the United States no longer as- pired to bring the Middle Eastern countries within its exclusive orbit, but recognized their right to choose their own paths. Jt no longer imposed a strict choice on the states of the region and a state was no longer considered to be unfriendly to the United States if it adopted a neutralist policy. Egypt's policy of non-align- ment, for instance, was no longer regarded with hostility and suspicion*46 As Kennedy said: "The question is not whether we should accept the neutralist tendencies of the Arabs, but how we can work with them. The question is not whether we should re- cognize the force of Arab nationalism, but how we can help to channel it along constructive lines".46 44 John S. Badeau, The American Approach to the Arab World, New York, 1968, p. 136. 45 The early sixties witnessed a diminution of the Middle East's strate- gical importance. During this period, there took place a general relaxa- tion in the East-West tension following the Cuban Missile Crisis. This made it easier for the United States to change its political strategy in the Middle East region. Outlook, January, 1964, p. 4.